Posted on: Sunday, October 19, 2003
McKinley clinches final OIA berth
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By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
McKinley secured a playoff berth by defeating Castle, 34-6, in O'ahu Interscholastic Association East football last night at Roosevelt's stadium.
A crowd of about 2,500 watched the Tigers (4-3 East, 5-3 overall) secure the fourth and final East playoff berth by ousting the defending OIA champion and state-runner-up Knights (3-4, 4-4). McKinley will play at West champion Mililani in Friday's OIA Red tournament quarterfinals. The winner earns a Division I state tournament berth.
"Revenge is great," said running back Quinton Sayers, referring to last year's triple-overtime loss to the Knights in the state semifinals and regular-season losses the past three years.
For Castle, it was the end of a season of adversity. It began with players serving suspensions for last year's state championship ejections in a season-opening loss to Mililani. Then came the forfeiture to Kailua for using an ineligible player. It ended with the Knights' inability to stop McKinley's run (154 yards), which enabled the Tigers to control the clock, especially in a scoreless third period.
"We thought we had put that behind us," Castle coach Nelson Maeda said of the two setbacks. "But McKinley played a heck of a game. They controlled the ball. They didn't turn over the ball. They ran the ball and passed with authority."
McKinley first-year coach William Moeava relied on Sayers (10 rushes, 112 yards) and Michael Vasconcellos (13 rushes, 56 yards).
"We knew Castle had some quickness out there, so we decided we wanted to try and pound it straight at them," Moeava said.
McKinley's Abel Werner completed 16 of 24 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
Cast—Brandon Shimomura 36 pass from Bryce Kalauokaaea (run failed)
RUSHING—Castle: Kalauokaaea 6-(minus-31), Guy Humalon 1-4, Damon Reames 4-3. McKinley: Werner 16-(minus-13), Michael Vasconcellos 13-56, Sayers 10-112, Team 1-(minus-1).
PASSING—Castle: Kalauokaaea 21-37-2—237. McKinley: Werner 16-24-0—259. RECEIVING—Castle: Robin Smith 1-10, Jarred Suzui 5-60, Shimomura 4-73, Ikaika Ho 3-16, Ethan Gonsalves 3-39, Junior Mansanas 3-17, Joe Park 2-22. McKinley: Iakopo Taumua 9-144, Vasconcellos 4-81, Sayers 2-19, Quiocho 1-15. JV—Castle 36, McKinley 0
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
McK—Abel Werner 1 run (kick blocked)
McK—Quinton Sayers 51 run (Werner run)
McK—Werner 1 run (Andrew Mitani kick)
McK—Sayers 1 run (Mitani kick)
McK—Chris Quiocho 15 pass from Werner (kick failed)
